Pavel Kubina has been here for one practice with the Flyers and he hopes that his stay with the team can go beyond this season.

An unrestricted free agent after the season, the 34-year-old Kubina was acquired on Saturday from Tampa Bay for two draft picks and minor league forward Jon Kalinski.

After his first practice today at Voorhees, Kubina said he hopes that things work out not only this year, but beyond.

“I would like to stick around that is for sure,” he said.

The 6-foot-4, 258-pound defenseman said he was really happy to come to a franchise with such strong fan support.

“It was always hard to play in this building and they have passionate fans and I am glad I can play for them now,” he said.

He’d like to play well not only now, but well into the future.

“If I play well for this team and they want me, I don’t want to go anywhere and test the water,” he said. “That is the way I am and hopefully it will go that way.”

The Flyers now have a much more physical backline. Last Thursday the Flyers acquired 6-4, 230-pound defenseman Nick Grossman from Dallas.

“I think the guys we picked up more than anything bring size and physicality,” Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said.

***

Jakub Voracek left practice after sliding into the boards. The Flyers said there weren’t any injuries to report, but this one bears watching.

***

James van Riemsdyk is certainly happy to be back on the ice after returning for Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. He missed 15 games due to a concussion.

“I feel good,” van Riemsdyk said after today’s practice. “My timing could have been a little better but I played a lot and it was fun to be out there.”

JVR played 14 minutes and 43 seconds.

***

The Flyers begin a four-game road trip Tuesday night in Winnipeg. Entering Monday the Flyers were tied for third in the NHL with 18 road wins, along with the New Jersey Devils. Only Vancouver (20) and the New York Rangers (19) have more.

The Flyers are 18-9-2 on the road and 14-10-5 at home.

For video of Kubina talking about his future with the Flyers, click here.